OIA seen to support scrapping ILS project

Although it has yet to respond formally to Tinian lawmakers’ cancellation of the island’s instrument landing system project, the Office of Insular Affairs is expected to support the decision, according to federal CIP coordinator Keith Aughenbaugh.

“As far as cancellation of ILS project, we’re satisfied with the decision because of modern [navigational] technologies,” Aughenbaugh told Saipan Tribune yesterday, adding that some Chinese airlines have affirmed having these new technologies and attesting that they can safely land at the Tinian airport without the aid of an ILS.

An instrument landing system, or ILS, is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft landing on a runway using a combination of radio signals and high-intensity lighting arrays to enable safe landings in times of reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or blowing snow.

Tinian lawmakers have been pushing for an ILS since 2005 to lure large aircraft to directly fly to the island. The project got an initial $3.5 million funding from the OIA after the Federal Aviation Administration declined to fund the project.

The Tinian delegation, however, decided in July to scrap the project and sent a letter to OIA informing it about the decision. Aughenbaugh believes this will be supported by the federal agency.

He explained that the request to redirect the ILS funds, initiated by the CNMI-CIP office in consultation with the Tinian delegation and the governor’s office, requires OIA’s formal approval.

“There’s no concern on canceling the project but the redirection of ILS funds needs the approval of the OIA and, as far as I know, no formal response has yet been issued to date,” he said.

Tinian delegation chair Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) earlier said that they plan to divert the $3.5 million federal funding to other projects. Close to $500,000 will be used for the emergency procurement of major bollards for the Tinian harbor. The remaining amount will be diverted to improve the terminal infrastructure, parking, and probably design and construction of a storage fuel tank.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority, which administers the island’s airport and seaport, said that some portion of the ILS funds can be used to buy a cargo conveyor, stairs for deplaning passengers, and to meet other requirements of the Transportation Security Administration.

The Tinian municipality and CPA earlier disclosed that Sichuan Airlines wants to bring direct flights to Tinian within the year.